First Day Back Home

I could use a friend right now.

Our trip to Washington D.C, while not particularly restful, was nice, fun and free of any significant unpleasantness. I will upload pictures and tell the story at a later date. 

Yesterday, we got our wake up call at 3:30 a.m. eastern time.  I was the first driver.  I think Frostburg, Virginia might be the name of the mountain town where we had breakfast.  The gas stations, etc, were a little far from the exit.  At the time it was inconvenient, but the sun began to rise as we got back on the highway, and the scenery was very pretty.  We drove all day, obviously.  I was driving again when the interstate was closed, and I had to re-route through downtown Indianapolis.  Lunch was a Steak N Shake on the Ohio border, and was the best one I've been in for years.  We made St. Louis by around dinner time, but got on 44 and went all the way to Rolla to drop off Dad and collect our dogs.  Since we hadn't stopped, we also had grilled cheese for dinner.  I drove from Rolla back to our house.  We got home at 10:30, unloaded, made sure all the school things were ready, and went to bed - exact time unknown.

This morning, I got up, somewhat unwillingly, and made sure the kids ate and were dressed, the dogs fed and teeth brushed.  I had to send money for lunch, since there was no time for grocery buying last night.  We piled into the car and made to depart amidst some rain and drizzle.

Then, I backed into my neighbor's car.  Well, it was a truck.  And that makes it sound like I just put the thing into reverse and left the rest up to God.  No.  I did, in fact, turn the car.  I didn't make it, though.  My car rubbed the red truck, doing damage to my car, but not to his.  Despite the lack of damage, I left him a note with my phone number.  (He didn't answer the door.)  I took the kids to school, came home, cried for being such a bad neighbor, and went to sleep.  The phone woke me.  Neighbor wants his car fixed by my insurance company, and wants police called.  I really don't know that there is anything to fix, but he insists. 

So that's how I've spent my morning.  Telling my insurance company and the police.  I have a report number and a claim number, and a car in much worse shape than his.  I know it is my fault, but I am feeling a little sorry for myself.  I'm just so tired.  And I had to have a police officer in my house when it hasn't been cleaned, and I haven't showered after a day in the car.  And I have to tell people all my mistakes and pretend that it's just business and doesn't matter particularly to me.  I was quite helpful.  I had all my things together.  I smiled and said, "Thank you."

It's shame, you know.

And I'm suddenly not feeling very neighborly.  I can't believe that mere minutes before this happened, I was feeling guilty that the dog was barking.

And I also just found out that one of the companies that I've been getting job notifications from is only for Veterans, which I am not.  How is it that my email is being confused for my father's AND my husband's?  It is all just too much.  No regular work, Josh's school loans to pay off, no sleep for days, but too much food, a filthy house that needs attention, empty cupboards, mosquito bites, deadlines but no money...and now a car accident in which I am the bad guy.

Too much for right now.  I am going to lie down.